Peptic fragments of bovine serum albumin bind antigen-specific T suppressor cells from orally tolerized mice

The antigenic structures capable of binding immunoregulatory T cells have been investigated. The functional properties (suppression or help) of BSA-specific T cells from primed or orally tolerized mice with capacity to adhere to bovine serum albumin or its peptic fragments were examined in reconstitution experiments in which splenic T-cell populations together with naive B cells were transferred into irradiated syngeneic recipients. Antigen-specific T suppressor cells isolated from mice tolerized to BSA adhered to peptic fragments of BSA as well as to the intact antigen. BSA-specific T helper cells adhered only to the intact antigen. Our data suggest that the preferential activation of T suppressor cells following administration of peptic fragments may be due to their ability to adhere to such fragments. These findings offer a novel approach of separation and identification of T suppressor cells and may be useful in further studies of immunosuppression.

Characterization of human beta-interferon-binding sites on human cells

Radioiodinated recombinant human beta-interferon (rHuIFN beta Ser), with almost full (greater than 90%) biological activity, was used to study the binding of human beta-interferon to Daudi cells. Specific binding was not observed with less biologically active (less than or equal to 10%) radioiodinated interferon. The bound radioiodinated interferon was shown to compete with human beta-interferon (HuIFN beta), rHuIFN beta Ser, human alpha-interferon (HuIFN alpha) and with human gamma-interferon (HuIFN gamma). Scatchard plot analyses suggest the presence of about 10,000 binding sites for HuIFN beta/Daudi cell. About 6,600 of these sites can be blocked by HuIFN alpha and 3,700 sites can be blocked by HuIFN gamma. The apparent Kd for HuIFN beta is 2.7 nM. The apparent Kd values for HuIFN alpha and HuIFN gamma are 3.7 and 1.1 nM, respectively. It was possible to demonstrate the cross-linking of HuIFN beta to two macromolecular components of Mr = 128,000 and 103,000. We propose the existence of at least two binding sites for HuIFN beta in Daudi cells, one site recognizing both HuIFN beta and HuIFN gamma, the other site recognizing both HuIFN beta and HuIFN alpha. Each site is capable of recognizing only HuIFN gamma or HuIFN alpha.

Complete amino acid sequence of the ubiquinone binding protein (QP-C), a protein similar to the 14,000-dalton subunit of the yeast ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex

The amino acid sequence of the ubiquinone binding protein (QP-C) in the cytochrome bc1 region of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain was determined by analysis of peptides obtained by cyanogen bromide cleavage and staphylococcal protease digestion of succinylated derivatives. It was found to consist of 110 amino acid residues and its amino terminus to be blocked by an acetyl group, as determined by mass spectrometry of the amino-terminal peptide and a comparison with peptides chemically synthesized on high-performance liquid chromatography. The molecular weight of this ubiquinone binding protein including the acetyl group was calculated to be 13,389. The predicted secondary structure of QP-C has alpha-helical content of about 50% and QP-C was classified as an "all-alpha" or "alpha + beta" protein. This is the first report describing the amino acid sequence of the ubiquinone binding protein. A comparison of this sequence with that of the 14-kDa subunit of the yeast ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex from the nucleotide sequence showed these two sequences to be quite similar.

Filling of the lateral canal. Report of two cases

In this article two cases, each involving an inflamed lateral canal, are reported. The lateral canals were fully filled with Oxpara paste by slight overfilling. The management principles of lateral and accessory canals are briefly mentioned as well.

Clinical studies on the antitumor action of mecaphane

Over a period of 4 years, 241 patients with advanced cancer were treated with mecaphane alone in 11 hospitals. Effective objective responses were obtained in 100 patients (41.4%). The response was most conspicuous in chronic granulocytic leukemia, with remission in 37 of 40 patients; in Hodgkin's disease and lymphosarcoma response rates were 60% and 47.3%, respectively. Mecaphane had an analgesic action in metastatic osteolytic bone cancer, and two patients with such metastases even attained recalcification of the osteolytic destructive lesions. The common toxic manifestations of mecaphane were leukopenia (33.6%), gastrointestinal upsets (28.2%), and thrombocytopenia (12.8%). It is concluded, therefore, that mecaphane could be a good antitumor agent in clinical use. It is less expensive and can be taken orally. Further trials of this drug are recommended.